Gene Cure For Inherited Deafness Effective, Long Lasting, Clinical Trial Finds

A new gene therapy to treat inherited deafness produces a lasting cure, a new international study has found.

The treatment, which targets the OTOF gene, restored hearing in 90% of participants, researchers reported April 22 in the journal Nature.

These results have lasted up to at least two and a half years after treatment, ...

ER Study Finds Major Gaps in Measles Immunity

As measles cases in California hit a seven-year high, new research suggests many adults are walking around without the protection they need.

A nationwide study reveals that emergency departments are seeing a high volume of patients who are under-vaccinated, uninformed or hesitant about the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Measles...

IVF 'Add On' Procedure Doesn't Work, Evidence Review Concludes

A hormone therapy commonly offered to IVF patients to improve chances of pregnancy is really a waste of time, a new evidence review says.

Injecting the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) into a woman’s uterus before embryo transfer does not increase rates of either pregnancy or live births, researchers recently reported in th...

CDC Report on COVID Vaccine Blocked From Publication

A federal report pointing out the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines may never be released, according to multiple people familiar with the decision.

The study found that the vaccine reduced emergency room visits and hospitalizations among healthy adults by about 50% during the past winter.

The report had been scheduled for publication Mar...

Moderna Starts Large Bird Flu Study Despite Earlier HHS Funding Loss

A new effort to prepare for future bird flu outbreaks is moving forward, despite a major funding setback.

The American pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Moderna has initiated a large clinical trial around a vaccine designed to protect people against bird flu, enrolling participants in the United States and Britain.

The study i...

RFK Jr. Won’t Commit to CDC Nominee’s Vaccine Decisions

During a tense congressional hearing Tuesday, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declined to say whether he would follow vaccine recommendations from the latest nominee to lead the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Asked if he would support vaccine guidance Dr. Erica Schwartz might issue if confirmed as CDC directo...

Pentagon Drops Flu Vaccine Requirement For U.S. Military

Flu shots will no longer be required for every U.S. service member.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Tuesday that troops can now choose whether to get the flu vaccine, rather than being required to receive it each year, The Associated Press reported.

In a video posted on social media, Hegseth said "the notion that a ...

Male Infertility Linked To Cancer Risk

Male infertility could be a warning sign for certain types of cancer, a new study says.

Men with severely reduced fertility are more likely to develop colon cancer or thyroid cancer, researchers reported in the European Journal of Epidemiology.

“They were found to have almost twice the risk of developing colorectal can...

Video Game Training Sharpens ER Doctors’ Split-Second Decisions

Imagine if "The Pitt" – a high-intensity HBO Max drama about life and death in a Pittsburgh ER – was turned into a video game.

It’s already happened, in a way, and that game is helping ER doctors hone their ability to make quick life-saving judgments, a new study says.

The tablet-based game, Night Shift, places play...

Bullying, Politics Harm Mental Health Of Gender-Diverse Teens

Gender-diverse teenagers who are bullied are more likely to suffer escalating psychological distress than other teens, particularly if they live in a state with repressive gender identity laws, a new study says.

These teens are more likely to experience psychotic-like episodes – feeling unusually suspicious of others, thinking others...

Napping Linked To Higher Risk Of Death Among Seniors, Study Finds

Grandpa snoozing on a recliner is an indelible memory for many families — but there could be a dark side to those daytime naps, a new study says.

Too much napping is linked to a higher risk of dying among older folks, researchers reported April 20 in JAMA Network Open.

Every extra nap and each additional hour of nappin...

Mind-Controlled Bionic Suit Lets Paralyzed Patients Feel Every Step

For people living with paralysis, the dream of walking again often feels like an impossible one. 

Now, a research team has successfully tested the feasibility of a two-way brain interface that allows a person to control a bionic suit with their thoughts and also feel the motion of walking.

The study — a collaboration of th...

Hidden Belly Fat Linked to Bladder Control in Women

For many women, a sudden sneeze or a hearty laugh bring an unwelcome consequence: A small leak of urine. 

Often dismissed as a normal part of aging or motherhood, new research suggests the real culprit may lie deep within the abdomen.

A study from the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) in Brazil found that hidden f...

Children’s Activity Cubes Recalled Over Choking Hazard Risk

A kid's toy designed for learning and play is being pulled from the market over safety concerns.

Officials say parts of the ATOYUS Children’s Activity Cubes can fall off, posing a choking risk for young kids.

The recall, announced April 16, involves about 70 wooden activity cubes sold online through Amazon between January and F...

Study Finds AI Chatbots Can Give Misleading Health Advice

"Do I really need chemotherapy?" 

"Is this natural remedy safer?"

"Does eating sugar cause cancer?"

As more people turn to artificial intelligence (AI) for quick answers to health questions like these, a new study finds the advice they receive can sometimes be incomplete, misleading or potentially harmful.

Researcher...

Former Surgeon General Backs CDC Nominee, But Questions Remain on Vaccines

A former U.S. surgeon general is weighing in on the president’s pick to lead the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), calling Dr. Erica Schwartz highly qualified while warning of some potential challenges.

Dr. Jerome Adams, who worked with Schwartz during President Donald Trump’s first term, described her on <...

Cantaloupes Recalled in Four States Due to Salmonella Risk

Health officials in some states are warning shoppers to avoid certain cantaloupes amid concerns they may carry Salmonella.

The recall, announced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), involves fruit produced by Ayco Farms Inc. and first pulled from shelves on March 24, Health.com reported.

In total, 8,302 c...

Less-Dangerous Painkiller Still Has High Risk For Drug Interactions

People prescribed gabapentinoid painkillers have a high risk of dangerous drug interactions if they are taking other meds, a new study found.

People have a doubled risk of hospitalization for drug poisoning if benzodiazepines are added to their gabapentinoids, researchers reported April 16 in PLOS Medicine.

Taking opioids wi...

Black Women Hit Hardest By Pandemic-Related Rise In Pregnancy-Related Deaths

Pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. increased sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among Black women, a new study reports.

Deaths remain significantly higher today for Black mothers, even though they’ve returned to pre-pandemic levels for most other groups, researchers reported in the journal Obstetrics & Gynec...